Simon's Skate Tips - I Ride Mongo

So ya love skateboarding, but still haven't mastered the ollie? Having problems landing your kickflip? Why not and he'll get an answer for you.

Hey Simon,
I've got problems with my skateboarding. I spend so much time skateboarding but I don't get any better. I've been skating for a little over a year and my best trick is probably primo to heelflip to primo to heelflip. I also ride "mongo". Does that screw me up?
be_kind_please_grind

Hey be_kind_please_grind

You need to ditch your mongo style quickly or else you'll never reach your maximum skating potential. Pushing mongo is a weak way to ride and will open you up to major flack from your fellow skateboarders (if it hasn't already.)

A person skates mongo if they use their leading foot (the foot that is in the front while riding) to push. While they are pushing, their back foot stays near the rear of the board and they push with their front foot. Then they put their front foot back on the board, adjust it to the proper angle and adjust their back foot as well. One of the disadvanages to pushing mongo is that it takes longer to adjust both feet to set up for a trick. Pushing mongo also puts most of your weight and body behind the board. This makes it harder to control the skateboard properly and more difficult to get the board going at high speeds.

You'll be much better off using your back foot to push, while always keeping your front foot on the board. Pushing with your back foot will mean you'll need less setup time for a trick because your front foot is already very close to the needed position. You'll also find it easier to push faster and you'll lose less speed because the setup time for a trick will be faster. You may find going from mongo to non-mongo a little weird for the first few days, but it will definitely make you a better skater in the long run.

Do you need some cool skateboarding tips?, to Simon. He might not no everything, but he's been skating for a while and certainly knows more than your Mom does. Remember: never push mongo, and always wear a helmet.